3
April 2018
Exciting Progress on The Sandcastle Beach Experience
View of the new Sandcastle pool construction seen from the fitness area.
The start of a new year is always a time to look ahead with
excitement, but for KICA, it’s a time leading into transition as well.
Board of Director terms begin and end at the annual meeting in
March. This year, Dave Singer’s term ended and we thanked him
for his service, including one year as chairman, while welcoming
our newest directors, Mike Feldmann and Sue Schaffer. Several days
later, the new board voted Ben Cheatham to serve as chairman. So
while we’re off and running with the new year in January, we really
hit our stride once the new board takes office in March.
Also hitting its stride is our Sandcastle renovation project.
When the board formally approved the project in late July, it
set an aggressive goal to start construction by the end of 2017,
and reopen in early July, effectively sandwiching the project
between two pool and beach seasons. I’m pleased to report
we are making great progress. While we have encountered a
few surprises - including some significant rot in several key
structural locations - we have stayed on schedule. The building
itself should be ready for interior finishes to start within weeks.
In addition to the new features and aesthetic improvements,
we’ve taken the opportunity to tackle some much-needed
maintenance. The entire roof has been replaced, the exterior is
being painted, significant mechanical improvements have been
made - including the replacement of major components to the
HVAC system - and much more. Completing these repairs
while the building is closed has made for a smoother and safer
process, and is expected to make ongoing maintenance easier.
As interior work heads for the finish line, the most significant
exterior work is reaching full speed. The new pool cavity has
been dug, and its piers and structural support are being built.
Construction of the new bathhouse is beginning, and drainage
repairs and parking lot re-configuration will soon follow. Be
sure to view the photos above (left) and below showcasing the
digging for the new pool. We look forward to sharing additional
updates as this work nears completion. You’ll also find frequent
updates in our weekly news updates and on social media.
Jimmy Bailey
KICA Chief Operating Officer